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Q & A with
Merv Goldsworthy
Alexander:
Dear Merv, there are only two questions. What girl sings
backing vocals on “I Belong To The Night”?
Merv: Hi Alexander,
the backing vocalist is Karen Page.
Alexander: Are there
any plans to release a new DVD with the old and new
material? Your Russian fan, Alexander Yakunin
Merv: We are looking
through all the footage from the European tour for
possible future release as a DVD.
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Craig: What or who
inspired you to pick up the bass and who do you admire
most or who are your favourite bass players?
Merv: Hi Craig, the
late great Philip Lynott is my inspiration. Another big
influence is Andy Fraser (Free). Also worth checking out
is Robert Kearns (Cry Of Love/Lynyrd Skynyrd), brill!!
Craig: Are you going
to sign up for the FM Fantasy Football League this year?
Merv: All done!!
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Doddy: Are The
Slaves still planning on releasing a CD of original
material now that all members are reunited with their
original outfits?
Merv: Hi Doddy, we
still record stuff for TV e.g. Would I Lie To You, Ant &
Dec's Saturday Night. Also ads for KFC, Wall's Ice Cream
etc. but no album for The Slaves is on the cards at the
moment. Craig and Andy are busy recording the new
Romeo's Daughter album.
Doddy: Is it true
you live next to the Queen in London Village?
Merv: No, I live
next to the Iron Maiden in Isleworth.
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Rich: Three
questions for you Merv - As well as collecting all
things FM, I like to collect material from other
projects that the guys were members of. I have the
Wildlife, SO, Ladder, Samson, Tobruk etc. but did
Streetfighter ever capture any studio recordings?
Merv: Hi Rich,
Streetfighter released the LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
4-track EP in 1979. Also “She's No Angel” (with John
Sykes on guitar) featured on the N.W.O.B.H.M.
compilation album NEW ELECTRIC WARRIORS on EMI Records.
Rich: What is your
favourite Samson track that you played on?
Merv: “The Fight
Goes On”... great lyrics by Nicky Moore.
Rich: Do you use any
effects on your bass rig on stage?
Merv: No.
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Iain: Hi Merv, some
questions for you, if you could form an all-star band
for one night only, with yourself on bass and not
including past or present FM members who would be in it?
Merv: Hi Iain, it
would have to be Brian Downey, Scott Gorham and Brian
Robertson.
Iain: Will you be
playing Glasgow on your next tour? (with Romeo's
Daughter as support please!)
Merv: I'm pretty
sure we'll be playing Glasgow on the next tour. Last
time we were up there at the Cathouse we had a great
night.
Iain: What are your
3 favourite FM songs on disc? What are your favourite
songs to play live?
Merv: Wildside /
Hard Day In Hell / That Girl
Iain: Have the band
considered doing a tour (including Scotland) playing the
Indiscreet album in full?
Merv: We've
considered it, it is still a possibility.
Iain: And finally...
The Back in the Saddle DVD was super. Any chance of
another DVD of concert footage with bonus footage of
promotional single videos?
Merv: Footage is
being edited from our recent European tour, possibly for
future release.
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Angela: Do you think
Chris Overland will ever join the band onstage?
Merv: Hi Angela,
would love it to happen but doubt it ever will.
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David: Do you play
any other instruments other than the bass? Have you got
a studio at home, if yes what equipment do you use?
Merv: Hi David, I
use a Tascam 2488, I play a bit of guitar and keys.
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Christophe: I saw
you at Graspop how did you find the experience, it was
very early?
Merv: Hi Christophe,
too early!!!!! It was great fun... biggest stage ever!!!
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Ian: Hello Merv, I
would like to know when did the suit jacket and hat
become part of your stage persona?
Merv: Hi Ian,
shortly after Jem and I paid a visit to a very odd suit
shop in Las Vegas.
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Rachel: Hi Merv, do
you think FM will ever go acoustical again?
Merv: Hi Rachel, we
certainly enjoyed recording the new acoustic version of
“That Girl” on the CITY LIMITS EP so who knows??...
Maybe???
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Michael: What do you
like so much about Thunderbird basses? Do you collect
them?
Merv: Hi Michael, I
love the growl, they sound like no other bass. I have 3
Thunderbirds.
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Chris: John Sykes
has just started a new band with Mike Portnoy from Dream
Theatre. Are you still in touch with him?
Merv: Hi Chris, I
haven't spoken to John since he left Thin Lizzy.
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Lidia: Hiya Merv,
I’m always highly amused by the mime actions you do when
the band perform Face To Face at live shows. Do you play
charades at parties?
Merv: Hi Lid, taken
from the Peter Kay School of Mime.
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Johan: Hello Merv.
You have very interesting band history, very strong
metal. What is your best style of playing? Do you speak
to anyone from Diamond Head or Samson?
Merv: Hi Johan, I'm
still in touch with Brian “Am I Evil” Tatler (Diamond
Head) and Blues legend Nicky Moore (Samson)
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Anon: Is the rumour
true when the brothers returned from writing with
Desmond Child, management insisted everyone call Mr O -
Stiv Bon Jovi ?
Merv: Never heard
that rumour.
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Mel: Do you ever get
so hot on stage that you wish you weren’t wearing the
hat and jacket?
Merv: Yes!!
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Michelle: Hi Merv,
or rather I should say Pete as he had more of a role to
play in this many many moons ago. My friend and I did a
Q&A session with you guys once. We sent in a list of
questions and Pete recorded all your answers but then
the tape never saw the light of day... Does any of it
ring a bell? It went on for quite a while. We sent in a
ransom note and all sorts of things. Yes your fans were
crazy and still are. Just a bit older that's all - ha
ha!! Anyway, that's all I wanted to ask really.
Merv: Hi Michelle,
sorry no recollections of this Q&A, maybe Pete can shed
some light on this...
Pete: I do vaguely
remember the ransom notes etc. Can’t for the life of me
remember what happened to the tape though, sorry.
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Jen: What’s your
favourite song on Metropolis and what’s your favourite
song to play live?
Merv: Hi Jen,
Flamingo Road / Wildside
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Peter: How did your
nickname “The Swerve” come about? Who gave it to you?
Merv: Hi Peter,
Robert Gambino (Diamond Head Tour Manager) I think said
it first.
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Rob: Saw in Classic
Rock that the new album is called Desolation Station,
cool name. Will it be released this year, Classic Rock
said maybe not? Any chance of some gigs in the UK this
year? Hope you haven’t forgotten about us.
Merv: Hi Rob,
Desolation Station is the working title, it will be
released in 2012. No news on live dates at the moment.
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Danny: Is true you
came up with the name of group, what were other names?
Now with internet it is difficult to have such name?
Merv: Hi Danny,
FM... it's a really great Steely Dan song, I just
listened to the song. Agreed, it's a rubbish name when
it comes to the internet.
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Luisa: We were very
happy to see you in Madrid, will you come back?
Merv: Hi Luisa, our
first ever show in Madrid, we had a great time, the
crowd were amazing. We'll be back!!!
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Photo - Merv live at Belfast Odyssey Arena 12 June 2011
Used with kind permission of Paul Verner
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